Raw electrophysiology recording files from toads implanted with flexible mesh electronics

Background Amphibians represent an important evolutionary transition from
aquatic to terrestrial environments and they display a large variety of
complex behaviors despite a relatively simple brain. However, their brain
activity is not as well characterized as that of many other vertebrates,
partially due to physiological traits that have made electrophysiology
recordings difficult to perform in awake and moving animals. New method We
implanted flexible mesh electronics in the cane toad (Rhinella marina) and
performed extracellular recordings in the telencephalon of anesthetized
toads and partially restrained, awake toads over multiple days. Results We
recorded brain activity over five consecutive days in awake toads and over
a 15 week period in a toad that was anesthetized during recordings. We
were able to perform spike sorting and identified single- and multi-unit
activity in all toads. Comparison with existing methods To our knowledge,
this is the first report of a modern method to perform electrophysiology
in non-paralyzed toads over multiple days, though there are historical
references to short term recordings in the past. Conclusions Implementing
flexible mesh electronics in amphibian species will allow for advanced
studies of the neural basis of amphibian behaviors.